Diane Decker A Dynamic And Dedicated Performer

You've heard so many coaches and sports figures dwell on the importance of the three-D's, namely: dedication, desire and devotion, in becoming successful.

Well, add those three plus a couple more like in Diane Decker and you're talking about a dynamic and dedicated basketball player who led the Marian Fillies to the 1983-84 PIAA State Class A girls championship and now stands a chance of becoming the team's all-time leading scorer.

Averaging better than 30 points a game, Decker barged into this week's action needing only 127 points to pass the 2,000-point mark and 306 to reign as the Fillies' top gun. Susie Shimkus amassed the record 2,182 before graduating in 1980.

Decker never dreamed this could happen to her. But, she is making it happen. The 5-10 senior, who was a 1983-84 USA Today All-American honorable mention, came to Marian as a fine prospect. She played on the Mahanoy City Catholic CYO teamthat finished fourth in the 1980 state championships in Altoona.

Although reportedly not the team's best player, she was tall (5-9) and more importantly Double-D had those three-D qualities of dedication, desire and devotion. And that's got her where she is today.

According to veteran coach Elsie Tolan, a Mahanoy City native who used to coach CYO and is now in her 19th season at the Fillies' helm, "Diane loves this game. She worked hard and practiced an awful lot even before she came to Marian. I remember seeing her play when she was in fourth grade. She wanted me to promise that I would stay at Marian at least until she got there."

Decker admits "I loved the Fillies while growence. She called up Decker and surprised everyone by starting her. "I was really nervous," Decker recalls, "but it really made me feel good about what this all meant."

She was on her way, actually, and that summer, Decker signed up for Kathy Rush's camp in Philadelphia, hopeful of learning more about the basketball. She started every game for the Fillies as a sophomore and that summer was among the select few to be invited to attend the Blue Star camp in Maryland where according to Decker "all you do is play basketball. It's a prestigious recruiting camp, actually. Somewhere around 70 college scouts are there to watch you play. After that you get a lot of mail, believe me."

She has received letters from every major college but her decision has been made. "I've decided to accept an offer from Villanova," she explains, adding "right now they are the No. 1 team in the East. There are no seniors on the team and I like the program. Besides, it's a good school and it's close to home."

Decker has been promised one of the school's two full scholarships. The other is going to a 6-4 girl from New Jersey, according to Decker. "They (Villanova) need some size and this girl is supposed to be very good. They do have an All-American in six-foot Shelly Pennefather who is from Utica, N.Y. and an outstanding shooter. I've seem them play a couple of times and spent a weekend on the Main Line campus getting to know the coaches and players before the start of school." Last summer Decker decided to attend a team camp in Delaware with other members of the Fillies. But, she also had the distinction of playing in the Keystone Games for the third year. Nobody else had appeared in the scholastic series all three years. Next summer, Decker says she hopes to continue to play but this time in the Open Class.

"It's so much fun, you can't imagine," she beams. "The people you meet and the experience is so worthwhile." The games have indeed matured Decker, who even though she takes the game seriously, still finds it easy to smile. Win or lose, Decker is always the first to congratulate or console the opposing players.

Because of her pleasant personality, Decker developed into a leader the last three years even though she was always among the younger starters. But, this was to be going to be her year, she thought. A senior, at last. However, it's turned out to be much more difficult.

"It's different," says Decker. "There's more responsibility and I'm under a lot more pressure. I've been doubled and triple-teamed which makes it tough for me. We've got a lot of new faces and the team is young, but they are doing a great job. I had a good time last year, but I have to admit that under the circumstances this is more fun. Dealing with the pressure is one thing, but seeing the others gain confidence as we keep improving makes you feel good."

Decker doesn't mind being moved around from underneath, to the wing or bringing up the ball as adjustments are made to counter the opponents' defense.

"I like it best out on the wing, but my all-around game is much better this year because of being switched from here to there. So what's good for the team is good for me."

Marian has moved up into Class AA this season and Decker feels this will be another challenge for her. "I really believe that Class AA is the strongest division of all. There are always a lot of good teams in this class and we're going to have a tough time if we want to be state champs again. But, that's what I like - challenges."